RAF urges claimants to submit outstanding documents to reduce backlog

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has called on claimants to submit outstanding documents to finalise their claims and reduce the backlog of 200 000 claims.

Speaking on Bush Radio’s Morning Cruise programme, on Tuesday, RAF Head of Corporate Communications, McIntosh Polela, explained the reason for the backlog or delay with processing claims is that it is mainly outstanding documents to support a claim.

‘’The RAF needs additional information from the claimant or the claimant’s attorney to support the claim they have submitted through the RAF 1 Form; Medical assessments for injuries which tells us how long you are out of work, whether temporarily or permanently, that determines the amount of work you have to give to you to allow you back into society; The litigation process also results in delays because it involves a court process that the RAF must adhere to bylaw.’’

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The fund has launched the “Drive Your Claim Forward” campaign aimed at encouraging claimants to submit outstanding documents and all the necessary information required to investigate as well as pay claims.

“Through the campaign, the RAF anticipates processing and finalising more claims, thus significantly reducing the waiting period claimants have to endure. Claimants and their representatives who submitted their claims before April 2021 are encouraged to deliver all outstanding documents in order for the fund to finalise their claims,” he said.

Polela says the fund saw an increase in fraudulent claims regarding road accidents.

‘’Claimant fall from houses and have an idea that they will claim or injured themselves from a bar or pub and get involved in a hit and run. The hit and run is the biggest problem because there is no car to speak of, because when you are involved there is not enough time to get the number plate and there is no sufficient documents, which becomes problematic.’’

‘’Other examples include funeral claims that are quicker to process. However, sometimes family members of deceased road accident victims submit claims with no supporting invoices. This means that the RAF has no proof of what amount was paid and if indeed the amount being claimed was paid; A claimant might claim and later pass away before the claim is finalised. This leaves the RAF with no contact details of the beneficiaries, in circumstances where the family had claimed for Loss of Support or should then claim for Loss of Support; Sometimes the contact details of the road accident victims change, and they don’t update the RAF,’’ added McIntosh Polela, RAF Head of Corporate Communications.

Claimants can submit their outstanding documents via email on contactcentre@raf.co.za as a PDF or a word document, or drop the documents off at any of the Fund’s regional offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, East London, and Cape Town.

To determine which documents are outstanding, claimants should visit www.raf.co.za, and get the information about which documents they need for their specific claim.

They may also contact the RAF’s Contact Centre on 087 820 1 111, via SMS on 44930, or by email on contactcentre@raf.co.za. Claimants who request a call back will be contacted by one of the Contact Centre agents.

In the unfortunate event of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, the RAF Contact Centre is reachable on 087 820 1 111, from Monday to Friday, 07:45 to 4pm.

 

Done By: Mitchum George